Mother-Infant Program

(Birth to 8 months)

Mother-Infant Groups meet weekly and provide the opportunity to discuss development and parenting in its earliest phase. It is a time of enormous change for women. Mother-infant attachments develop. Infant rhythms of wake-sleep, hunger-satiation, and equilibrium/distress - equilibrium/heightened pleasure emerge. Mutual gaze, social smiles and joint focus of attention become possible. As the year progresses the babies begin to initiate and respond to play interactions, participate in first play group activities and use play to create expectancies, build relationships and meet developmental milestones.

Play activities include: beginning manipulative toys, the early social game, "I give it to you - you give it to me" and singing together. Additional topics discussed include: careers and other interests, fathers and infants, innate and acquired traits, and babies' expanding relationships with others.

There are 6-8 mothers and children in the group. Mothers' discussions are led by Ilene Sackler Lefcourt. Play is facilitated by Alyson McCormick and the play staff.